The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
ABELARD AND HELOISE.

pher and theologian. He was of rich
family, but gave up his rights to younger
brothers that he might devote himself to
study. He became the teacher of some
who were afterward highly distinguished,
and his writings on religion and philoso-
ply brought him great fame. His love
for his youthful pupil, Heloise, and his
private marriage, and the cruel separa-
ton that followed, have given themes for
much romantic writing.
Abelard became monk, and Heloise
nun; but the letters of Heloise chow that
the walls Of nunnery could not shut out
the thoughts of her beloved husband.
When the abbot Abelard dies, in good
repute for sanctity, Heloise has the loved
body laid at rest at the hermitage OF the
Parsclete, which Abelard had given to
her and her sisterhood, that she may be
buried with him, and those who had been
separated in life might be joined in death.
She lived twenty years longer. An old
chronicle of Tours says that when the
body of Heloise was at length deposited
by the side of her spouse, the dead hus-
band raised his arms and embraced her.
Disraeli tells us that Du Chesne, the "a
ther Of French history, gives this poetic
fiction as fact.
Abelard was not only distinguished as
logician and literary man, but he also
,1pdarofood fba Graob Hahrau op5 Tot
in languages. He became successful
disputsnt before he was twenty three
years old, and often conquered his teach
or, William de Champeaux, in contests of
wit and logic, when he was studying un-
der him in Paris. He gave lectures nc
Melun to young men who were ready to
leave the schools OF Paris to hear him.
After time he opened school of rheto-
ric in Paris, and was very popular
When Abelard, having been appointed
abbot of the monastery of St. Gildas de
Rhuys, gave Heloise and her religious
sisterhood his chapel Paraclete, thus
named in honor OF the Holy Ghost, the
husband and vile saw each other for the
first time for eleven years. What meet
ing it must have been. Heloise, Eloise
or Louisa, as we would call the name
was celebrated for her wit, as well as her
beauty. In the oratory of the Paraclete,
where she founded a new convent, she
led life of piety. Abelard wrote the
rules for the convent. Heloise was stu
dent of theology and philosophy, and
versed in the dead languages. Her lofty
genius and bright Imagination, and ar
dent spirit are well displayed in the poem
of Alexander Pope, entitled "Eloisa to
Abelard." 1t is partly drawn from her
letters, and shows most wildly the strug-
gle between grace and nature. Here are
two striking lines from the poem:
"Of all affection taught a lover yet,
TITS sure the hardest science to for get"
But heaven is invoked to expel earth
thus:
"Fill my fond heart with God alone, for he
Alone can rival, can succeed to thee"
The poem speaks of future lovers as
weeping over the tomb that contained the
two faithful hearts, at " Paraclete's white
walls and silver springs" but the bodies
were removed in after years to the beau
tiful cemetery of Pere lie Chaise, at Paris,
and it is there that devoted lovers strew
their tomb with flowers.
The enthusiasm which Abelard in
spired among his pupils is shown in the
fact that when he founded the convent of
the Paraclete, the crowds of scholars were
ready to cover their mud sheds with tree
branches, and in such humble abodes
they were content to dwell near such
master, whom they loved so well. The
desert is place of happiness, if it affords
means OF mental improvement.
A letter of Abelard gives a mournful
account OF this monastery. He writes his
friend Philintus that he oes not under
stand the language of the barbarous
country in which he lives. The sea about
him is perpetually stormy. The monks
rebel against his authority. The doors
and walls of the abbey had the heads of
wild bears, and the feet of kinds TO adorn
them. The skins of deer, and the hides
OF trightful animals were also the strange
adornments of house devoted to religion.
There Was no bell, and the cocks and
dogs were the heralds OF the morning.
Sometimes at this convent of st. Gildas
de Rhuys he grieved over the loss of the
house of the Paraclete, and wished to see
it again. Here he sighed and wept and
pinned and spoke the name Of his dear
Heloise, and was pleased to hear the
sound"
AS we read this strange story OF French
life in the twelfth century, does it not
naturally occur to the mind that perhaps
these ardent lovers would have led a hap
Ply and useful life if they had been per-
mitted to dwell together after marriage,
instead of being thus separated for so
great portion of their lives?
Still the story is but another evidence
of the strength Of human love, and also
of the power of Divine love to surpass
even human affection. In this lifelong
sacrifice and discipline there might have
been much of preparation for higher
sphere-NetO York Observer.